The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1887-10-14
rnr MISSION OF the PUBLIC SCHOOL

A large number Of people seem to mis-
conceive the mission OF the public school.
Very, very many want public school be.
cause Acy have children whom they would
be pleased TO see edueatedand choose the
public school system As the most convcn.
lent, cheap aud accommodating system by
which to secure that education. They take
no thought OF, nor but little interest in,the
education of other peoples children, look.
ing At the whole matter Of our public
school system from purely selfish stand
point. Many citizens there are,who have
no children to educate, who look Il the
matter from the same selfish motive, and
hence are never willing 70 assist by money
OF other means In maintaining or building
up the system. II the man. having ehlI.
drcn to educate, has no higher nor less
selfish interest In our public schools than
merely TO have a convenient place where
Ais children may be educated, then the man
without children to educate Ii emlnently
right In refusing to assist By money or
otherwise TO maintain these schools. Or,
toclothe the Idea in palmer garb,we would
say II the man without children of hts own
| 20 educate has no interest In the education
Of the ehildren OF others, then that man
should never be taxed nor called upon In
any way TO assis, in maintaining the pub.
lie school system 10 educate children not
his own. The proposition we aim TO es.
tabiish 4 this Each citizen Of q state has
a deep and an abiding interest In the prop.
er education Of every child III the state
This interest grows out Of the duties and
relations of citizenship Ia republic. IL
is to the interest Of each citizen and tax
payer that every other citizen should be
an orderly, lRw.abiding. upright citizen.
For thls reason every citizen has an inter.
est In seeing every child In the state prop.
srly educated and fully ihdoctrinated In
the pure principles OF American citizen
ship. We have been careful to saysprop.
erly educated, for alas too many children
In our public schools arc only educated,
not property educated. Our schools. - q
rule, make enough progress In mere book
learning, but in the practical application
Of such learning 10 practical every day
concerns OF busy life, there + i sad lack
OF duty on the part Of teachers. arising out
OF their incompeteney or willfui neglect.
Very much of the failure Of public sdnea.
tIcn ~ applied 10 the masses OF the people
come from the fact that The head only has
been taught, while the heart and moral
nature have been studioasly ignored. This
is utilitarian age In which the child i
expected TO be able TO perform all the du.
ties Of manhood when he arrives al the
age OF manhood. Most of the shinge to be
done In this world are common fAiRgs to be
done in a common way. but ssllI they are
much better done and more profitably
done when their doing Is guided By Intel.
llgenee. Our public schools add our prl.
vaie schools should all the time emphasize
| the fact that education Il not intended to
enable its possessor 20 get rid of labor, bat
TO enable him TO labor TO better advantage,
whether on the farm, In the workshop, In
the counting room or in the learned pro.
fessIon. So II will be seen that two things
arc neglected in our public schools. First,
children are instructed merely In the mat
ter found In the text books, without even
considering the proper sway 10 apply the
elementary principles thus obtained. Here.
In is q continual failure Of the mission Of
our public schools. Second, merely the
mind only Il cultivated and developed to
the utter ignoring of the proper cultivation
and development Of the moral nature. II
child II not taught to be honest truthful,
genteel, sober, r,law-abidlng, industrious and
to possess himself Of all those other good
qualities that go to make up exemplary
citizenship, then II were far better that he
had no book learning, for II person is to
be dishonest, deeeitful, laNleas, lazy and
eviI.minded, then Il were better that his
mind had never been trained, for such
training only enables him to more success.
fully enjoy the fruits Of his evil disposi.
ton. There Is fearful responsibility
resting upon the teacher IN this matter.